Anaerobic co-treatment of leachates produced in a biodegradable urban solid waste composting plant in Mexico City

Co-tratamiento anaerobio de lixiviados producidos en una planta de composteo de desechos sólidos urbanos biodegradables en la Ciudad de México

J. Gan¹, G. Montaño¹, C. Fajardo¹, M. Meraz^1* and P. Castilla²

¹ Departamento de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa. Av. San Rafael Atlixco 186, Col. Vicentina, Iztapalapa, México, 09340. * Corresponding author. E-mail: meraz@xanum.uam.mx Tel. +52 55 5804 4723. Fax: +52 55 58046406.

² Departmento El Hombre y su Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco. Calz. del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, Coyoacán, México, 04960.

Received May 13, 2013
Accepted August 7, 2013

Abstract

In this work the anaerobic co-treatment of the leachates produced during urban solid biodegradable wastes composting diluted with municipal wastewater, was investigated. Leachates produced during the first 30 days of garbage composting contained 102.1 g COD L^-1, 20 g VFA L^-1, acid pH and 0.64 g NH⁺_4- N L^-1. Instead, leachates that remained for 3 months the composting plant after being produced contained 15.8 g COD L^-1, 2.35 g VFA L^-1, a pH near neutrality and 5.36 g NH⁺_4-N L^-1. An anaerobic zeolite packed filter reactor was used for the biological treatment and was operated at a constant HRT of 1.5 d. Leachates were diluted with municipal wastewater (0.4 g COD L^-1) to obtain feedings with organic matter concentrations ranging from 1.8 to 13.1 g COD L^-1 and organic loading rates from 1.2 to 8.7 g COD L^-1 d^-1. Removal efficiencies attained increased from 79.5 to 91.5% and methane productivity from 0.223d to 1.84 L L^-1 d^-1, rendering 0.48 L CH₄ per g consumed COD, equivalent to 118 kJ L^-1 of fed influent.

Keywords: anaerobic filter reactor, biodegradable solid waste, compost leachate, co-treatment, methane.

Resumen

En este trabajo se investigó el co-tratamiento anaerobio de los lixiviados producidos durante el composteo de desechos sólidos urbanos biodegradables, diluidos con agua residual municipal. Los lixiviados producidos durante los primeros 30 días de composteo de la basura, contenían en promedio 102.1 g DQO L^-1, 20 g AGV L^-1, pH ácido y 0.64 g NH⁺_4-N L^-1. En contraste, los lixiviados que permanecieron 3 meses en la planta de composteo despues de haber sido producidos, presentaron 15.8 g DQOL^-1, 2.35 g AGV L^-1, pH cercano a la neutralidad y 5.36 g NH⁺_4-N L^-1. Para el tratamiento biológico se utilizó un reactor de filtro empacado con zeolita que se operó a un tiempo de retención hidráulica de 1.5 d. Los lixiviados fueron diluidos con agua residual municipal (0.4 g DQO L^-1) para una concentration en la alimentación de 1.8 a 13.1 g DQO L^-1 y velocidades de carga orgánica de 1.2 a 8.7 g DQO L^-1 d^-1. Las eficiencias de remoción alcanzadas se incrementaron de 79.5 a 91.5% y la productividad de metano de 0.23 a 1.84 L L^-1 d^-1, obteniendo 0.48 L CH₄ por g DQO consumido, equivalente a 118 kJ L^-1 de influente alimentado.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Institute for Science and Technology of Mexico City through project PICSO 11-55. Compost leachate samples were provided by the Recycling Sub Direction of the General Direction of Urban Services of Mexico City.

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